Burwell is located in Garfield County (of which it is the county seat) 16 miles northwest of Ord between Ericson and Taylor along Hwy 91 near Fort Hartsuff State Historic Park and the Calamus Reservoir.
The town was laid out on land donated by Frank Webster and I.B.Nelson, and named for Ada Burwell, fiance of Webster's brother who was killed in a logging accident. Burwell immediate area is one of the most productive farming regions in the state.
A popular attraction every year in Burwell is the Nebraska's Big Rodeo.